Alcohol Ink Stained Wood Pumpkin


Earlier this year, I experimented with staining wood with alcohol ink. It was successful and hasn't faded after a couple of months, so when I saw this two-layer pumpkin on a recent trip to Dollar Tree, I knew I needed to try another staining strategy.


The wooden pumpkin came with a raffia bow glued to the top, so I pulled it off and scraped the glue off and sanded the area until it was smooth. Then I put some blue painter's tape onto the twine string so that I wouldn't get ink on it. I laid down a silicone craft mat and rounded up all my orange alcohol inks.


I started by dripping some of the darker shades of orange into a metal container and thinning it a bit with 91% rubbing alcohol. Then I used a paint brush to paint it on the bottom layer of the pumpkin.



I painted about 3 layers of the darker orange on the bottom layer and attempted to mix in some brown to make the stem pop a bit.


I let the darker layer of ink dry for about an hour and then I came back and made another batch of ink with the lighter shades of orange and a bit of yellow. Before applying the lighter ink, I used my paint brush wetted with rubbing alcohol to soften the ink that bled through on the edges of the second layer of wood.


I painted 2 layers of the lighter orange on the top layer of wood to finish the pumpkin.


I was really pleased with how this turned out. I wasn't sure it was going to work or if it would bleed badly between the two tones. I did have some bleed through from the first darker layer of inks, but I was able to lighten those areas, and because they were similar colors, it worked out. This method does seem a lot easier to remove color than to add it. Making it darker requires adding more ink and painting a whole new layer of ink (as it looks blotchy to do touch ups). But it was still easy and as quick, if not quicker (because it dries quickly), than painting. It also has the benefit of being transparent and showing the wood grain. I look forward to future possibilities!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Plastic Wrap Alcohol Ink on Small Ceramic Bowl

Image
A while back I picked up some small white bowls from Big Lots ( these look similar ) with a nice satin finish. I already inked one bowl using the flame method , but I still have a few bowls left, so I decided to give one the plastic wrap treatment. I got out my craft mat and some alcohol inks . Then I cleaned my bowl with rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and removed the sale sticker from the bottom. I tore a piece of plastic wrap off the roll that was large enough to cover my bowl, and I set it down on my craft mat, being sure not to smooth it out. Then I dripped ink on the plastic wrap until I liked the combination of colors and the plastic was mostly full of color. Then I placed my bowl in the center of the plastic wrap and carefully applied the plastic wrap to the sides without smoothing it out too much (so it keeps the wrinkled pattern). Then I flipped it over to dry. I ended up using 7 colors on the bowl. I wanted something bright and fun so I we
Read more

Splatter Resist Alcohol Ink Tile

Image
I still have some ceramic tiles left from my last run to the hardware store, so when I remembered I had saved the contact paper heart from my Valentine's Day Glass Etching project, I knew exactly what I wanted to try. I grabbed some bright alcohol inks , canned air , a 6 inch ceramic tile , and my contact paper heart. I originally cut it out free hand by folding the contact paper, so it doesn't have to be perfect, but I'm sure if you have a cutting machine you could use that to make whatever shape you'd like in contact paper or vinyl. I peeled back the paper backing and applied the heart to the middle of the tile (as best as I could eyeball it). Then I rubbed down the edges of the contact paper. I squeezed out a drop of alcohol ink near the edge of the heart and used canned air to blow the drop out from the center of the tile. I usually hold the can with my right hand and a plastic lid with my left (I use the lid from the small plastic box I keep
Read more

Alcohol Ink Washer Necklaces

Image
I received a package of alcohol inks for Christmas and then bought a second set with a 50% off coupon at Michael's.  I've used them now to make coasters and to decorate some candle holders .  I was just getting my sea legs with these inks to begin with.  I applied the ink directly onto the surfaces and played around with rubbing alcohol as a blending solution.  But I thought it was high time that I used an applicator to use them the way they were intended.  Of course, the applicator is just a stamp with some velcro on it and it costs 6+ dollars....not to mention buying the pre-cut pieces of felt. So I figured I'd make my own.  I was very much in a use what you've got mentality, so I grabbed a scrap piece of wood and a couple of strips of velcro (hook and loop tape).  I used the hook side and lined two pieces up next to each other.  Luckily they were just the right width. I had the sew-on kind of velcro, so I spread some tacky glue thinly onto the surface
Read more